Shipping
Q: When will our items for shipping be collected?
A: Around April/May, the HR office will send you the instructions about the moving company. The moving company will get in contact with you, come to your home, and plan your shipment. Usually the shipment arrives in Hanoi near the time you arrive, although depending on the origin and other factors, your shipment could possibly arrive a bit after you have settled in. The mover will deliver it to your new home in Hanoi.
Q: Do I organize my shipping myself through a company and then get reimbursed or is there a specific company I should arrange it through? Also, when do I need to send it and how long does it take to get there approximately?
A: The school usually uses Asian Tiger for the shipment process from Hanoi. They’ll be in touch with you closer to the moving date. The length of when to send it depends on the location it’s coming from and where it’s going. UNIS usually pays the moving company directly so you don't have to worry about paying them, unless you exceed your shipping allowance.
Q: Since UNIS is part of the UN, can you bring anything you like in the shipment without paying tax on it. For example, if I bought a new TV in England and shipped it, would that incur tax in Vietnam?
A: First, you shouldn’t have to pay any tax on your personal shipped items that arrive with your initial shipment. If you get things via mail, etc. later, after your initial arrival, you do often have to pay customs.
From our Human Resources officer:
“Yes, they are exempted for tax to ship their personal goods to Hanoi, as UNIS overseas hired staff. But for one time when they start working with the school only, because UNIS will coordinate with Asian Tigers – Transpo (the school’s selected moving company) to work with the Vietnamese customs ensuring all new teachers can import their stuff without paying tax. This applies for the amount outside their entitlement as long as it is in the same package. Transpo is able to advise them what they can and cannot bring into Vietnam. Goods/gifts which may arrive in different times during their working period in Vietnam will be considered personal items and are teachers’ responsibility. If they have questions, please ask them to contact HR directly.”
Q: Do you have any suggestions as to what are essentials to ship to Hanoi?
A: Yes. We will try to provide you with as much information as possible to help you get here safe, sound, and equipped. Of course, you'll want to bring the essentials (though moves can be great for getting rid of clutter!). However, you can bring a good amount with your shipping allowance so make sure you bring what you think you might need. Please see the What to Bring to Vietnam page for information.
Q: Is there anything else I should definitely purchase before I arrive?
A: Many staff either ride scooters or take motor bike taxis from time to time. A good, international standard helmet is a must (it is a law to wear helmets in Vietnam), especially if you have a larger head. A full-face helmet is recommended and good ones are more difficult to find in Hanoi. Another item that is frequently talked about is bedding. Most beds in Hanoi houses are king sized beds. Even though you can get bedding and towels here in Hanoi, most of the quality is low and the cost is high. We advise you to bring your own from your current location. Please see the What to Bring to Vietnam page for information.
Q: What is your recommendation on shipping insurance?
A: It depends where you’re coming from and your own personal security for the belongings you’re shipping. It has happened that some things go missing during shipping from time to time.
Q: What's hard and what's easy to get in Hanoi in terms of necessities for the home and person in day-to-day living?
A: You can find most things here if you know where to look. Again, you might want to bring a good motorbike helmet and a good cycling helmet if you plan to bike ride. You might want to bring specialty shoes (for whatever purpose), although there’s a whole street downtown for cheap shoes (sizes up to 39)! We recommend you bring your bed linens and towels due to the cheap material and the high expense of them. Everything else (clothes/furniture/comfy couch/whatever you need), you can get tailor made or purchase. Some speciality food items can be hard to find as well, though you might be surprised at how much you can get here. Please see the What to Bring to Vietnam page for information.
Q: Do you know if appliances are worth moving? Is it easy to purchase things like coffee pots, toasters, hairdryers and blenders or are there other options?
A: It’s really up to you, but you can get most things here. Many apartments and homes come with nice TVs. It’s 220 Volt here, so if you’re bringing something with you that is at 120V, put a voltage converter into your shipment. But most US plugs work here just fine without any converter (for things like phone chargers, but do not work on things with a bigger use of electricity like blenders). There are a couple of big stores where you can get almost anything you need. And there’s Winmart and Lotte Mart which has basic kitchen appliances and utensils in walking distance from both school and housing. So you can buy anything you need. Having said all this, having kitchenware essentials in your shipment can certainly save time/money. You might want to plan a box or two of things that could go in your shipment if you’ve got room to fill, but could be left behind if your shipment becomes full.
Q: Is there any creature comforts that you would recommend shipping from my home of residence? I'm thinking bigger items like mattresses, couches, chairs, etc. Or is it possible to get everything in Hanoi?
A: You can get things made very easily here in Hanoi and there are a few houseware and furniture stores. If there’s a favorite couch/chair/mattress you can’t live or sleep without you might want to include it in your shipment, but not necessary. Many apartments come with furniture too. So ship what you really enjoy, whether it's a heavenly soft top for your mattress or a favorite love seat!
Q: What sizes are the standard for there? I do like my sheets and have hauled them around the world more than once :-) and want to hopefully make sure I have sheets that would fit and a mattress top that would fit.
A: The standard size is either King size (180cm x 200cm) or Queen size (160cm x 200cm). Most apartments and homes come with King size beds, and it's way easier to make a King sheet fit on a Queen bed than the opposite!
Q: With relocating do most people bring their own furniture or just go for a furnished place? We are thinking of delaying our shipping and seeing what we need after we have moved in somewhere
A: Houses and apartments are for rent in Ciputra and Tay Ho with varying types and prices. Most are fully-furnished and are perhaps a bit more expensive than the partly or unfurnished houses. Teachers often bring whatever they have to Viet Nam so they don’t have to buy new furniture. Also, you might find that the furniture in the houses you visit are not your style so it’d be best to bring what you really like along. School also gives new teachers a furniture allowance when you just arrive so you also have some money to buy things you like in Hanoi in different shops.
Q: Can you get quality adult and kids bikes? Are they expensive?
A: Yes, there are plenty of quality bikes and they are quite affordable. There are several bike shops as well as a Decathlon store in Hanoi. But if you are very particular about your bike, or if you are tall, you may have difficulty finding the right one for you. Some better bike shops might special order a bike for you (Trek, Giant, etc), which can take a few weeks or months to arrive.